Improvement in water-wheels



T. J. A'LCDTT.

l water-Wheels. No. 139,699.

AM. maro-Lnwocm Pff/c ca M x (ous/meis massa) 3 Sheets--SheetL PatentedJune10, 1873.

`which-- `outer edge of buckets made in one casting, in

UNITED STATES. PATENT CFFIGE.

THOMAS J. LCOTT, OF MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,699,dated June 10, 1873 application filed February 19, 1873.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. ALCOTT, of Mount Holly, countyofBurlington and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Turbine Water-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a clear and eXact description of the nature thereof,sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in

Figurel is a central vertical section of the device embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view (in section) of the wheelring orgate and walls, and Figs. 3 and 4 are similar viewsof portions thereof.Figs 5 and 6 are respectively vertical 'and transverse views of one ofthe buckets. Fig. 7 is a top view, showing the means for operating thegate.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in theseveral figures.

This invention consists inthe construction of the walls of the casing ofthe wheel. It also consists in a cast metallic hub and means forattachment thereto of the rim which carries the buckets. It alsoconsists in a concave upper rim and buckets and rim on the lowercombination with upper hub and arms and lower casting, which, whensecured to upper concave rim, not only forms a hub forthe rotatingshaft, but also forms the concave foot which rests on wooden center orstep, thereby making a better wearing-surface than the ordinary forgedshafts, which are more eX- pensive, more easily corroded, or destroyedby the action of the water, while, at the same time, the wheels are moreeasily cast without thel solid center to rim, and prevents all liabilityof the casting being destroyed by the buckets parting from the outer rimby shrinkgit further consists in the construction of the inneradjustable gate-ring, the same having issues or chutes, one lseries ofwhich being equal to the openings in the outer casing; an-

other series being equal to twice the size of said openings; and anotherseries being equal to three times thesize of said openings, which, beingdivided by metal plates, makes each of the openings orissues in theinner ring to correspond in size to the outer openings or waterways,whereby, by adjusting the ring, there may be obtained full packed issuesof water in Iall that are open, whether using one-third, two-thirds, orthe full capacity or power of the wheel, without `contracting the flowof water in such issues as may be opened, and also by the said ring thewater may be entirely shut od'.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the draft-tube, consisting of arim or band which rests vertically on, or is connected to, the saddle onwhich the step B is supported. (l represents an annular plate, whichprojects horizontally from and is cast with the upper edge 'of thedraft-tube, and supports the walls l) and gate E.' The walls D are insections, with chutes`D between them, and consist of outerupright'shells F and inner facing-plates F', which are arranged betweenhorizontal plates G, with which the shells F are cast, said plates beingof uniform size and formation, the lower plate being supported on andbolted to the annular plate O, and the upper plate being bolted to thecover G', to which the dome is connected.` The gate E is encircled bythe walls D, and consists of a cylindrical ring, which is constructedwith issues or chutes H, which direct the water from the chutes `D"ofthe walls to the wheel within the gatel lt will` be seen that theconstruction of `the plate C, plates G, coverG, and gate E is such that,by the conformation ofthe parts to` each other, the walls D, and theirsupporting-plates G, and gate E may be readily reversed and adapted foreither aright or left wheel, as may be required or necessary. The wallsin the present case are nine in number, and the` facing-plates F thereofare connected tothe shells F by screws or bolts J, which are litted tosaid plates and shells, whichtwo parts form a hollow body, and the endsthereof which approach each other` have -a space be-` tween them for thereception of'strips of rub-y. ber, leather, or other suitable packing K,i y

ble joints between the side edges of the wall and said gate, therebypreventing wear on the facing-plates, rendering easy operation of thegate, and obviating the otherwise occurring ill effects of corrosion,gritty substances, Ste., and preventing sticking or binding of thegate-ring against the wall. The gate E consists of a vertical ring orband with chutes or issues H, andrests on the plates (l of thedraft-tube, as has beencstated. The issues H correspond in height to thewalls D, but in the present case there are three series of issues, butmore or less may be used, one series, H', being equal to the width ofthechutes between the section of the walls D, another series, H", beingequal to twice the size thereof, and another series, H"', being equal tothree times the size of the said chutes, and so on. Each series H" isequally divided by a vertical plate, mand each series H"' is formed intothirds by two similar plates, b 1),'said plates a b b constitutingportions of the gate.

When the gate is in position, as in Fig. 2, all of the chutes D' of theouter casing or walls are open and permit the passage of water throughone issue of each of series of issues of the gate, (and consequently tothe buckets,) in which case I am enabled to use full-gate. Now turn thegate in the direction of the arrow, a distance equal to the width of oneof the chutes D', (see Fig. 3,) and it will be perceived that the seriesH' of the issues H are covered by the respective sections ofthe walls,and but one issue of each of the other series H" and H"' remain open, sothat the flow of water through the uncovered chutes D' and the openissues is not diminished at said chutes, there being no contraction ofthe open issues. Now, as one series is entirely closed I am usingtwo-thirds gate. Then, again, move the gate in the direction of thearrow, the distance of one chute, and it is seen that the series H' andH" are covered by the sections of the walls and consequently closed, butthere will be left open one issue of each of the series H"', so thatone-third gate is in use. In all these movements of the gate thoseissues which are open are of the same size, and there is no diminutionthereof in obtaining the two-thirds and one-third gate, whereby the flowof water during thenrespective adjustment of the gate is reliablyproportional in the ratio of thirds. When one more turn of the gate ismade all of the issues are covered by the walls, the gate being thusentirely closed and the water shut ofi". (See Fig. 4.)

L represents a concave rim, whose widest portion is above. With thisring is cast the buckets M and the band N which encircles and closes theouter lower portion ofthe buckets. On the inner face of the ring L Iform a rim or lug, P P, to which the arms of the hub are bolted orsecured, which hub is formed in sections I" P" of cast metal. Srepresents the shaft, which is constructed, as usually, of wrought metaland tted in the cast-metal sections of the hub. The lowersection P isfitted on the wooden step or center B, thereby making a betterwearing-surface than the ordinary forged shafts, which are moreexpensive, easily corroded, `or destroyed by the action ofthe water. Atthe same time the wheel is more easily cast without the center to rim,and prevents all liability of the destruction of the casting by thebuckets parting from the outer rim by shrinkage. The inner edges orsides t of the buckets M are curved inwardly to conform to the convexform of the convex rim L, and then curve outwardly at t' from the lowertermination of said rim to the outer edges or sides t", which latter areush with the gate-rim, and are set a little ahead of the inner edges t'.The lower portions of the buckets curve under each other, and eachbucket M is in vertical and horizontal sections, somewhat of an S-shape,with a grooved depression or cavity, T, which, extending near the outerside or edge t", begins a little below the top, deepens at 1"' as itpasses the center, and widens at t"" to the curved edge t', so thatthere is presented a curved depression for the direct im pact of water,whereby the water will be well packed, which is most desirable. Whenfullgate is on, the discharge of water will be both vertical andcentral, as shown by the arrows l and 2, so as to utilize every part ofthe bucket, and consequently obtain full percentage ofthe water applied,andwhen there is on a partial gate the discharge will only be vertical,due to the depression T, the water acting on the periphery without beingdirected or scattered to the center, but power thus obtained will bereliably proportional to the full-gate. On the top of the gate-ring E Iarrange and secure, at diametrically-opposite points, segments U, withwhichA engage pinions V, suitably mounted, which pinions are engaged bytoothed segments WV, which are secured to arms X projecting from a ringor band, Y, which encircles the dome below the cover and has an axisthereon. A hand-wheel shaft, Z, is attached centrally' to one of thepinions V, and by properly rotating said shaft it turns or opens andcloses the gate ring. In these movements the various pinions Vandtoothed segments W also rotate, and thus cause uniformity in themovements without binding or undue bearing at any one point of the ring.

Having thus described -my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. The walls, consisting of the shells F and adjustable plates F',substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The cast metallic hub, the lugs or rim P, rim L, and shaft S,combined and operating as herein set forth.

3. The concave rim, buckets, and encircling ofthe' ring E, substantialiyas and for the rim cast in one, in combination with the secpurpose setforth.

tional hub, substantially as and for the pur- The above signed vby me,this 10th dayof pose set forth. February, 1873.

4. The inner gate-ring E formed with issues THOMAS J. ALCOTT. H,constructed of diii'erential series, respect- Witnesses: ively, H H H,in connection with the walls JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM,

with chutes D, equal to one issue of the series MILLARD F. WALTON.

